If you want to save money when purchasing items, you will want to know buy in bulk. Whether you are purchasing food, toiletries, office supplies of other times in bulk, you must shop carefully. Although there are many oppurtunities to buy in bulk, you do not want to buy in bulk unless the items you buying are cheap and will actually be saving money.
Read the steps below to determine buy in bulk so that you actually save money and don't waste money instead.
Instructions
1. Determine the per item cost of the bulk items -
Before buying in bulk, calculate how much it costs in comparison to buying small quantities.
To calculate the cost of buying in bulk when you are buying a lot of the same item, divide the price of the items in bulk by the quantity you are purchasing. Check if this number is (significantly) less than the price for buying the item individually.
(Note: Sometimes bulk is a huge container instead of just a lot of standard size containers. In this case, you must determine the cost per certain amount and compare which is cheaper. For example, if the small size can is 2 oz and the big size is 12 oz, then the big size is 6 times as big as the small size. Divide the price of the big size by 6 and see if the price is less than the price of the small size can.)
2. Determine how often you use the product -
Products that you do not use often might be cheap to buy in bulk, but there is a good chance you will never need to use all of it. In the end, you will come out cheaper by buying items in smaller quantities because the bulk quantities will just go to waste.
3. Shop wisely if the item expires or will spoils quickly -
For bulk food items, you should look at expiration dates. Make sure you will use the bulk quantity before the item expires. For perishable items - for example, those stored in the refrigerator or freezer - it is even more important to make sure to purchase in bulk wisely. Unless you have a large refrigerator or an extra freezer for storage, you will not want items hanging around for a very long time.
4. Look into how long the product lasts after it is open -
Before you buy a big bulk sized food product, find out how long the container will last after it is open. The product may say to use within a certain amount of time after opening. Again, make sure you will be able to finish this amount in time.
5. Make sure all the items you buy in bulk are useful -
Sometimes items sold in bulk contain items you will not need. For example, you might be able to buy 20 pairs of socks in bulk in an assortment of colors. If you know you only wear socks that are black or blue than all the other colors will be wasted. Unless the price is very good, you will be wasting money.
6. Try out the brand first -
Sometimes you may see a good deal on a bulk product from a company that you have never used. Before purchasing the item in bulk, make sure to purchase a small quantity of the item to make sure you like it. You don't want to be stuck with a year's supply of an item that you don't like.
Tags: small size, after open, amount time, bulk quantity, buying bulk, certain amount, item expires